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Implementation of the EU association agreement with Georgia

2017/2282(INI)

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Andrejs MAMIKINS (S&D, LV) on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Georgia.

Four years after the signing by the EU of the Association Agreement (AA) including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with Georgia, and two years after its full entry into force, the European Parliament has decided to evaluate the level of implementation of this agreement, in line with its strong commitment to its closest Eastern partners and to their deepening relations with the EU.

EU-Georgia relations are being continuously deepened by virtue of new major achievements in line with the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA), Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and Association Agenda, including the entry into force of the visa-free regime and Georgia’s accession to the Energy Community.

Overall, the findings of this report provide a positive image of the implementation of the Association Agreement with Georgia. Whilst calling on the Georgian authorities to address some remaining concerns in line with AA - notably as regards labour standards, environmental protection and discrimination against vulnerable groups and women - the report also welcomed the legislative and institutional steps taken in order to address those topics.

Members welcomed the sustained reform track and progress made in implementing the AA and the DCFTA, which has positioned Georgia as a key partner of the EU in the region. They called the Georgian authorities to continue ensuring stability, further democratic reforms and economic and social improvements for Georgians, who are affected by poverty, unemployment and a high level of economic emigration.

Areas of concern where improvements may be made are as follows:

Institutional framework in place to implement the Association Agreement: Members noted that EU support to Georgia will reach between EUR 371 and 453 million for 2017-2020, with additional funds available under the ‘more for more principle’ in line with the EU-Georgia Association Agenda. The Commission is encouraged to provide such assistance proportionally to Georgia’s absorption capacity and reform efforts.

They called on the EEAS and/or the Commission to:

  • provide assistance in capacity-building and in the training of Georgian officials dealing with AA/DCFTA implementation;
  • boost internal capabilities to step up monitoring of the implementation of the AA, notably through an increase in dedicated human resources with in-depth expertise in the Georgian administrative and legal system.

Political dialogue: Members regretted the postponement of the implementation of a fully proportional electoral system until 2024. They reiterated their readiness to observe future elections in Georgia and to assist the Georgian authorities in following up on and implementing the recommendations that will be presented.

While supporting the democratic strengthening of Georgia’s political institutions, the report stressed the urgent need to put in place more rigorous mechanisms for scrutinising the executive, including through the ability of Members of Parliament to put questions to ministers and the Prime Minister on a regular basis in order to hold them accountable.

Members welcomed the effective implementation of the visa free regime for Georgian citizens since 27 March 2017. However, they encouraged regular monitoring thereof in order to ensure continued compliance.

As regards the illegal occupation of Georgian territories by Russia, the report stressed that the international community must take a consistent, coordinated, united and firm stance against Russia’s occupation and annexation policy.

It also stressed the need to further develop high level dialogue on security issues between the EU and Georgia, particularly on countering radicalisation, violent extremism, propaganda and hybrid threats.

Respect for human rights: the Georgian authorities are called on to further operationalise the country’s human rights coordination mechanism and strengthen its cooperation in multilateral forums. Members called on the Georgian authorities to take further steps to uphold fundamental freedoms and human rights, notably for vulnerable groups, by fighting hate speech and discrimination, including on the labour market through an amended Labour Code, against LGBTQI people, Roma people, people living with HIV/AIDS, persons with disabilities and other minorities.

The humanitarian situation in and isolation of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia continue to represent one of the key challenges for Georgia.

Members also called for:

  • further steps to protect women against all forms of violence, sexual abuse and harassment at work and in public places, and to increase the number of women on the labour market and in politics where they remain underrepresented;
  • a strengthening of the protection of children’s rights, including the prevention of violence against children, access to education for all children, including those with disabilities;
  • the depoliticisation of media content.